Dry pipe condensate collector containing antifreeze



July 4, 1967 J. T. KANE 3,329,215

DRY PIPE CONDENSATE COLLECTOR CONTAKNING ANTIFREEZE Filed June l0, 1965 INVENTOR.

A'TTOR NE Y United States Patent O ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Condensate collector for la dry pipe sprinkler system having draining means and venting means and a funnel filling means for adding antifreeze liquid for cold weather tire protection.

This invention relates to apparatus for the introduction, control, removal and replacement of antifreeze in dry pipe sprinkler systems to prevent condensate from freezing and destroying the fluid tight integrity of the system.

A dry pipe sprinkler system is used for lire prevention in such buildings as boat houses, yacht clubs, and the like. In such systems, the pipes are charged with cornpressed air and fusible plugs in the system, when melted by heat from a fire, for example, allow the gas pressure to drop and thereby enable the opening of a water valve which in turn delivers water to the system -for lire control.

To compensate for loss of air pressure through inevitable small leaks, an air compressor or similar charging system is used. Small amounts of moisture are thereby introduced into the system, which upon condensation collect in the low points of the system.

In the past, the means for collecting the water at the low points and maintaining the collected water at abovefreezing temperatures was cumbersome, expensive and fraught with regulatory approval and maintenance problems. My invention provides for collecting the condensate and treating it with antifreeze, obviating the need for heat and minimizing the other problems.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide means for introducing antifreeze into the low point of dry pipe sprinkler systems, to provide a collector in which condensate arriving at the low point can mix readily `with the antifreeze, and to provide means for efficiently removing the diluted antifreeze and replacing it.

Further objects of this invention are to provide means for testing the degree of dilution of the antifreeze-condensate mixture before draining it from the system, to avoid discarding it prematurely, and, in recharging the system with antifreeze, to provide means for indicating that the system has received its proper volume of antifreeze.

It is the ultimate intent of this invention to satisfy the aforementioned objects by means of one single simple piece of apparatus and not a complicated system of disconnected valves and piping.

Governing bodies can inspect and test the apparatus and, when it meets their requirements, can mark it approved with the knowledge that, all parts being united in the one piece of apparatus, no essential disconnected pipe or valve can be omitted.

Once the apparatus has received the mark of approval of the governing bodies, installing contractors are assured, and can assure their clients, that the applicable sprinkler system with the approved apparatus properly installed will be approved in this respect as a system, whereas such approval could not be given for a system of disconnected piping and valves which might be devised to serve the same purpose, without special inspection.

The owner of a building in which such sprinkler system is installed readily recognizes the value of an approved piece of equipment with its simplified operating instructions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a condensate collector for a pressurized pipe system comprising a hollow drum having a top portion, a bottom portion and sidewalls, the drum being in communication with the pipe system through an opening in the top portion thereof, and through a suitable valve. The drum has a drain valve in the bottom portion and a vent valve in the top portion thereof. Suitable filler means comprising a valve and -a funnel having indicia means thereon are located in the sidewall of said body.

The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which is ya cross-sectional view in elevation of the condensate collector partially iilled with antifreeze.

The condensate collector as shown in the drawing comprises a hollow drum generally indicated by the numeral 10, having a top portion 11, a bottom portion 12, and a sidewall 13. The drum 10, as shown, is in uid communication with a dry pipe sprinkler system schematically indicated by numeral 32, through the opening 15 and shut-olf valve 14 in the top portion 11 which connects with conduit 16.

A vent valve 17 is provided in the top portion of the drum 10. The vent valve 17 comprises a handwheel 18 and stem 19 threaded into the valve housing 20 and seating at 21. When the valve stem 19 is unseated, -a passageway is opened from the inside of drum 10 through opening 22 in the side of the valve stem 19 Iand through the longitudinal passage 23 in valve stem 19 and into the atmosphere.

Drain valve 24 is located at the lowermost pant of the bottom portion 12 of `the drum 10 and is substantially identical to the valve 17. It is to be understood that any suitable valve may be used in place of the ones disclosed herein.

Filling means is provided in the sidewall of the drum 10. The filling means comprises an upstanding funnel 26 and a valve 25 which is similar to above-described valves 1'7 and 24. The funnel 26 communicates with the inside of drum 10 when the solid stem 27 is unseated from valve seat 21. The communication is set up through the opening 28 in the sidewall 13 defined by the valveseat 21. The funnel 26 may be provided with a cap 29 to keep out any Iforeign matter. Fluid level indicia means 30 is embossed on the inside surface of the funnel 26 for the purposes :that will become obvious in the description of the operation of the device.

ln use, condensate from the sprinkler system 32 enters drum 10 through normally open valve 14 and opening 15. To prevent the condensate from freezing, the drum 10 is partially lilled with yan antifreeze solution 31. The iilling is accomplished by lirst closing shut-off valve 14 to prevent bleeding of the compressed air in the system 32. Vent valve 17 and fill valve 25 are then opened. rPhe drum is drained by opening valve 24; after draining, valve 24 is closed. The cover 29 is removed from funnel 26 and an antifreeze solution is poured into the drum 10 through the funnel. Indicia means 30 is provided on the inside surface of the funnel 26 as `a guide for determining when a predetermined level of antifreeze has been reached in the `dru-m 10. The valves 17 and 25 are then closed and valve 14 is opened and the collector is in operation.

The `drum 10 may be drained through drain valve 24 after vent valve 17 is opened and valve 14 is closed to discharge collected condensate. Vent valve 17 is used to check the height of liquid in the drum 10 to see if draining and recharging is needed.

Drum 10 may be filled and drained very quickly withoutV releasing the air in the system 32. The use of valves as opposed to threaded plugs or the like further ensures expeditious lling and draining. This becomes obvious, for example, when -it is desired to drain only a small amount of the uid for purposes of checking the degree of dilution. The funnel 26 serves the useful purposes of tunneling the antifreeze uid into the drum l0, of indicating the level to `which the drum is to be filled with antifreeze, and of providing a sample for checking the specific gravity of the liquid.

The use of the `device of the ints-aint invention is not to be limited to ydry pipe sprinkler systems but may be used in any gas pipe system where a problem of freezing condensation exists.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain e-mbodimetns, they are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting, and it is intended to cover all further embodiments that falll within the spirit `and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a dry pipe sprinkler system, an improvement consisting of a condensate collector comprising a hollow drum having a top portion and a bottom portion `and a sidewall, said drum being in ycommunication with said sprinkler system to receive condensate therefrom through an opening in said top portion, a vent valve in said top portion, a drain valve in said `bottorn portiotn, and filling means in a sidewall of said drum to enable ladmission of an antifreeze liquid into said drum, said means comprising a, valve having `a funnel thereon, said funnel being in communication with the inside of said drum through said valve.

2. The condensate collector of claim 1 wherein said funnel has uid level indicia means thereon.

3. Ln the sprinkler system of claim 1 and including a removable cover closing said funnel.

4. A device for treating and handling condensation in a dry pipe sprinkler system 'consisting of a hollow drum of predetermined volume having ka top portion and a bot* tom portion and a sidewall, a shut-off valve in the top portion for connection to a low point in the sprinkler system, a fill valve in the sidewall, a funnel connected to said ll valve for enabling the filling of said drum and the period testing of the solution of arntifreeze and condensate, indicia means on said funnel for indicating the amount of antifreeze in said drum, a vent valve in said top portion for venting said drum when draining and for testing the lled status of said drum, and a drain valve in the lowermost part of said bottom portion for draining said drum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 629,845 8/1899 Brown et al. 137--203 X 901,049 10/1908 Tuor 137-203 X 2,180,747 ll/l939 Schirmer 137--203 2,733,733 2/1956 Ghormley 13834 3,129,267 4/1964 Alfieri 13S-34 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

V. C. WILKS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A DRY SPRINKLER SYSTEM, AN IMPROVEMENT CONSISTING OF A CONDENSATE COLLECTOR COMPRISING A HOLLOW DRUM HAVING A TOP PORTION AND A BOTTOM PORTION AND A SIDEWALL, SAID DRUM BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID SPRINKLER SYSTEM TO RECEIVE CONDENSATE THEREFROM THROUGH AN OPENING IN SAID TOP PORTION, A VENT VALVE IN SAID TOP PORTION, A DRAIN VALVE IN SAID BOTTOM PORTION, AND FILLING MEANS IN A SIDEWALL OF SAID DRUM TO ENABLE ADMISSION OF AN ANTIFREEZE LIQUID INTO SAID DRUM, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A VALVE HAVING A FUNNEL THEREON, SAID FUNNEL BEING IN 